Reclosing circuit interrupter



June ,1953 D. J. PICCONE 2,644,045

RECLOSING CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed June 25, 1950 Ihventor: Domenic J.Piccone,

His Att or-ney.

Patented June 30, 1953 OFFICE RECLOSING CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Domenic J.Piccone, Ardmore, Pa, assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Application June 23, 1950, Serial No. 169,991

1 Claim. '5!

This invention relates to automatic reclosing circuit interrupters andparticularly to reclosers which are adapted for use on poly-phasecircuits.

Application Serial No. 19,364 filed April 6, 1948, McCurry et al.,assigned to the assignee of this application, discloses a single polereclosing circuit interrupter of the type wherein closing operations aredelayed and wherein predetermined opening operations are delayed duringpersistent fault conditions. The single pole recloser dis closed in thislviccurry et 2.1. application is arranged to loci: its contacts in theopen circuit position after a predetermined number or" closelysucceeding reclosing operations occurring during a persistent fault.

It is sometimes desirable to employ a single pole reclosing circuitinterrupter of the type disclosed in the aforesaid application in serieswith each phase conductor of a polyphase circuit so that in case of afault, such as a ground fault that involves only one phase conductor ofthe circuit, only the circuit interrupter in series with the faultedphase conductor is opened and reclosed. However, in the event that thefault is of a persistent character so that the single pole reclosing.

circuit interrupter in series with the faulted phase conductor is lockedin its open circuit position, it is also desirable to effect the openingof the single pole circuit interrupters in the other phase conductors ofthe polyphase circuit was to protect any polyphase apparatus that may beconnected thereto.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved automaticreclosing mechanism for a plurality of single pole reclosing circuitinterrupters whereby each of the circuit interrupters may be opened andreclosed a predetermined number of times while the other circuitinterrupters remain in their closed circuit positions and whereby all ofthe closed circuit interrupters are automatically opened and maintainedin their open circuit positions when any one of the circuit interruptershas been opened a sufiicient number of times to cause it to be locked inits open circuit position.

fhe invention will be better understood from the following descriptionwhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1is a si e elevation of a triple pole automatic reclosing circuitinterrupter embodying my invention, and in which Fig. 2 is an enlargedsectional View of the upper portion of a single pole interrupter of thetype shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, three single pole interrupters are shown connected for triplepole operation. Each of these interrupters comprises a tank I having acover 2. An adapter plate 3 is secured to each of the covers 2 by meansof bolts 5. A bushing member 5 is mounted on each adapter plate 3 andserves to insulate its associated conductor t. It will be understoodthat each of the interrupting units of Fig. 1 is provided with twobushings such as 5, two adapter plates such as 3 and two conductors suchas B, the second terminal of each unit being disposed behind theterminals shown in Fig. i and hence hidden from view. Each of theinterrupting units of Fig. l is pro" vided with a manual operatinghandle I by which an operator can cause the contacts of the associatedinterrupter to be opened and closed.

In accordance with my invention all of the operating handles '5 areoperably related with each other. A link i? is secured to each operatinghandle or crank l by bolts or rivets or if desired could be formedintegrally therewith. Clevis members Q'are pivotally secured at H] tolinks Clevis members 9 are interconnected by an operating rod which ismade up of sections Illa and 5% which threadedly engage the clevismembers 9. From the description thus far it will be obvious thatoperation of any one of the arms i! will cause operation of the othermanually operable arms or cranks i.

In Fig. 2 only so much of the internal mechanism of the interruptingunits utilized in my invention is shown as is deemed necessary for acomplete understanding of the invention. A complete disclosure of theinterrupter shown in Fig. 2 is contained in the above mentioned Mc-Curry et al. application. In Fig. 2 a U-shaped supporting structure issecured. to the inner surface of the cover 2. This U-shaped structurecomprises the bight portion ii and the prongs it. Only one of theseprongs i2 appears in Fig. 2 since this drawing is a cross-sectionalView. The prongs 52 are provided with downwardly extending centerportions 53 which support a shaft member it by a journal engagementtherewith. Rotatable about the shaft I4 is a gear wheel 15 and a ratchetwheel is which if desired may be secured to each 0t or by rivets orotherwise. Engageable with the gear wheel 55 is a pinion member it whichis rotatable about a shaft [8 journally supported by prongs i2. Securedto and rotatable with the pinion I7 is a toothed wheel 89 arranged toengage an oscillatable member 25 pivoted at M to the prongs i2. Thusrotation of gear wheel it causes rotation of toothed wheel l9 and thevelocity of rotation of these parts is controlled in known manner by theoscillatable 3 member 20. The member 22 is secured to oscillatablemember for the purpose of increasing the inertia of that member.

As is more fully disclosed in the above mentioned McCurry et al.applicaton, the recloser of Fig. 2 is provided with a fixed main contactand a movable main contact. The rod 23 of Fig. 2 is interconnected withthe movable main contact and is movable therewith. As is also disclosedin the above mentioned McCurry application an interrupter of the typeshown in Fig. 2 is provided with a main coil which elevates rod 23 andthe movable main contact, and a relay, the coil of which is in serieswith the main operating coil and the contacts of which are arranged inshunt with the main operating coil. Thus a fault or overload conditionon the circuit associated with the interrupter will first energize therelay coil which in turn will elevate its armature and open its contactsthereby removing the shunt path from around the main operating coil.When this shunt path is removed, the main operating coil is theneffective to open the main contacts. The rod 24 of Fig. 2 isinterconnected with the relay armature.

Mounted for rotation about the shaft I4 is an arm 25 which is pivotallyconnected with the vertically operable arm 24 by means of a pin 23. Anopening pawl 21 is mounted on pin 28 secured to arm 25. A spring 29biases the opening pawl 21 in the clockwise direction about pin 23against a stop member 33 mounted on one of the prongs 12. Thus when afault or overload condition occurs the relay will elevate the operatingarm 24 and will cause rotation of arm 25 in the clockwise directionabout the shaft 14. When the opening pawl 21 moves out of engagementwith the stop 33 spring 29 will bias the pawl into engagement with theratchet wheel I6. If the pawl engages a smooth portion such as 16a ofthe ratchet wheel, there will be no time delay in the upward movement ofrod 24 or of the relay armature or its contacts. If, however, theopening pawl 21 engages a toothed portion lfib of ratchet wheel l6upward movement of rod 24 L will be delayed due to the action ofoscillatory member 20.

For the purpose of achieving time delayed closing of the main contacts,the rod 23 associated with the main contacts of the interrupter isoperably related by pin 31 with an arm 32 which arm is rotatable aboutthe shaft 14. A closing pawl 33 is mounted on the shaft pin 3| and isbiased for rotation in the clockwise direction about shaft pin 3i by thespring 34 against a stop pin Thus when operating rod 23 is movedupwardly to open the associated main contact, arm 32 is rotated in thecounterclockwise direction about shaft l4. After closing pawl 33 movesout of engagement with stop 35 the pawl may then engage a toothedportion I61) of ratchet wheel l3, and as a result, closing downwardmovement of rod 23 will be delayed through the action of gear wheel 15,pinion l1, and oscillatory member 20. From the above description it willbe observed that ratchet wheel [6 and gear wheel 15 are always rotatedabout shaft M in a clockwise direction due to closing downward movementof rod 23 and that these parts are rotated in a clockwise direction whenoperating member 24 moves upwardly if opening pawl 21 engages a toothedportion of the ratchet wheel. The interrupter disclosed in the aboveMcCurry et al. application is arranged so that each closing operationand each opening operation after the first two openings are timedelayed. Thus a predetermined number of closely succeeding cir cuitinterrupting operations will cause a predetermined advancement inratchet wheel 16 and gear wheel l5 in the clockwise direction. In thisway a pin such as 36 which may be mounted on the ratchet wheel it willbe advanced from its normal solid line position to an operated positionas indicated by the dotted circle 36a. It will be understood, of course,that if the fault condition is not persistent in nature, the ratchetwheel and gear wheel will be returned to their normal positions by theoperation of spring 31 which is affixed at its upper end to downwardlyprojecting portion 38 of the bight portion ll of the U-shaped supportingmember and which is connected at its lower end to a flexible wire 39which in turn winds off of drum 40 secured to ratchet wheel It.

For the purpose of causing the interrupter automatically to lock itscontacts in the open circuit position, a lock-out linkage is disposedfor engagement by the pin 36 after a predetermined movement thereof. Tothis end an arm 4| is mounted for rotation about the shaft 18. A spring42 biases arm 4| for rotation about shaft it in a clockwise direction.Affixed to the lower end of the arm 41 by a pin 43 is another arm 44.Arm 4a is provided with a slot 45 in which the pin 3! rides. When arm 41occupies the position shown. upward movement of rod 23 will causecounterclockwise rotation of arm 44 about pin lt and the right hand endof arm 44 will clear the pin 46 mounted on toggle lever 41. When the pin35 on ratchet wheel it engages the arm 4|, that arm will be rotated in acounterclockwise direction about the shaft i8 against the bias of springThis counterclockwise rotation of arm H will cause the arm 44 to shiftbodily to the right. When so shifted to the right the right hand end ofarm 44 is so far extended to the right that upward movement of rod 23and the resulting counterclockwise rotation of arm 44 about pin 43 willcause the outer end of rod 44 to engage the pin 4t mounted on togglelever 41 which toggle lever is rotatable about pin 48 supported byprongs i2. Suitable bias for toggle lever 41 is applied by means ofspring 49 which is interconnected between pin 46 and projection 53 whichmay be integrally formed with prong With the parts in the positionsshown in Fig. 2 the center line of spring 49 is slightly below thecenter of pin 48 so that toggle lever. 41 is in engagement with stop pin5|. After the righthand end of arm 44 engages the pin 46 toggle lever 41is moved in the counterclockwise direction about its mounting pin 48.Since rod 23 is interconnected by means of the pin 31 with the link 52having therein a slot 53 in which pin 43 rides, it will be obvious thatcounterclockwise rotation. of toggle lever 41 under the action of spring49 will elevate rod 23 and. the parts associated therewith and willmaintain the parts in the elevated position so long as the toggle pin 46remains overcenter with respect to pin 48 and spring 49.

For the purpose of 2 11121113 opening the interrupter, the manualop-clauing arm or crank f is used. Arm or crank. l is pivot-ally mountedto cover 2 by means of pin 55. Arm or crank 1 is provided with largeopening through Will'dl'l pin 45 extends. Arm 1 is also provided with anaperture 51 for receiving a switch stick. Thus, if the switch stick ispulled downwardly, arm 1 is rotated in the clockwise direction about pin55 and the pin 46 will eventually be moved upwardly upon engagement witha lower portion of opening 56. Thereafter toggle lever 41 will open thebreaker and will maintain the breaker in the open position.

As has already been explained the arms 1 of all the units areinterconnected by means of links 8, clevis members 9 and operating rodsections Illa and 1619. It will be observed that the pivots I6 aredisposed slightly to the left of pivots 55 with the parts in theirnormal positions as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, when the breaker is closed,the operating rods I90. and illb will tend to remain in the positionsshown due to the pull of gravity until actuated toward the right byclockwise rotation of one of the arms 1 either due to manual operationor due to actuation by means of engagement between arm 64 and pin 46.During the movement to the right of rod portions Mia and Iflb pivots !9will move to the right of the vertical center line of pivots 55 andthereafter the Weight of the rod and parts associated therewith willtend to aid the rotation of arm I in the clockwise direction about pins55. It is in this way that the effective force exerted by spring 49 ofeach of the interrupters is augmented. Furthermore, after the rods lflaand Oh have been moved to the right as described, the parts will tend toremain in this position.

While I have in accordance with the patent statutes shown and describedone embodiment of the invention, changes and modifications will beobvious to those skilled in the art and I, therefore, intend in theappended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

In a circuit interrupter of the reclosing type comprising a plurality ofsingle pole interrupting units each having its individual operatingmeans, and normally inactive lockout means associated with each unit andeiiective upon actuation thereof for individually causing thecorresponding unit to open; the improvement comprising; amanually-operable pivoted operating crank disposed on each unit andmovable from a normal position to an operated position so as to actuatethe associated normally inactive lockout means, an operating rod beingoperably related with said pivoted cranks, and means connecting saidpivoted cranks to said operating rod at a location such that when saidcranks are in said normal position, the weight of said operating rod andsaid connecting means biases said pivoted operating cranks in onedirection to hold said cranks in said normal position and such that whensaid cranks are moved to their operated position the force due to theweight of said operating rod and said connecting means is shiftedrelative to the pivot of said cranks so that said force biases and actsto hold the cranks in said operated position.

DOMENIC J. PICCONE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,314,483 Wood et a1 Aug. 26, 1919 1,769,563 Wood July 1, 19301,790,689 Wood Feb. 3, 1931 2,464,303 Gesellschap Mar. 15, 19492,476,076 Walle et a1 July 12, 1949 2,567,411 Van Ryan Sept. 11, 1951

